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Holocaust Memorial Day
poetry competition being launched
YOUNG people are being invited to write
poems which will be read out at Liverpool's Holocaust Memorial Day service. The
theme for this year's Holocaust Memorial Day is 'The Power of Words', and
explores how language has been used in the past and the present and the impact
that it has on us and those around us.
The competition is being launched at the Schools Parliament at Liverpool Town
Hall, on Tuesday, 28 November 2017. 2 of the entries submitted by Friday, 12 January
2018, will be selected to be read out at the civic event on Friday 26 January at
Liverpool Town Hall.
Lord Mayor, Councillor Malcolm Kennedy, said:- "Holocaust Memorial Day is
not only a time to remember those millions who died in the Holocaust and
subsequent genocides, but is also a call to action for the present. The words we
use can be an immense power for good but also evil, so it is essential we stamp
out their use to promote hate crime and prejudice. We have many talented,
articulate and eloquent wordsmiths among our young people and I know that we
will receive some powerful and thought provoking entries."
A selection of the poems entered will be included in an anthology that will be
presented to entrants, schools and libraries in the City.
Liverpool City Council's lead on Holocaust Memorial Day, Councillor Jeremy Wolfson, a member of the
City's Jewish community, said:- "Attendees at the recent HMD planning
meeting wanted to do something particularly poignant for 2018, which marks the
10th Anniversary of Liverpool hosting the national event for Holocaust Memorial
Day in 2008. This poetry competition fits well into this year's theme 'The Power
of Words.' It gives our young people an opportunity to reflect on the Holocaust
and raise awareness of not only what happened, but to try and ensure that the
attitudes which led to it are not repeated. I would particularly like to
thank the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust's Mandy Penellum, Jeff Dunn, Director of
Liverpool Schools' Parliament and John Gorman from The Scaffold, for their
invaluable advice and support in setting up the poetry competition."
Poems should be submitted to: Jeff Dunn c/o Liverpool Town Hall, High Street,
Liverpool, L2 3SW or by
email.
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